Charles Glaser, George Washington University

The project will begin with an exploration of the basic concepts: What is a sphere of influence? Via what mechanisms do military capabilities, military alliances and economic cooperation create a sphere of influence? In the specific case of a rising China, what special challenges does a declining state face when striving to preserve its sphere of influence? The project will then explore a range of means (military, international institutions, economic policy, diaspora relations) that a state can employ in support of a sphere of influence or a regional order, or both.